The Uninsured Division (UD), part of Maryland Auto Insurance, assists victims of crashes caused by uninsured drivers.
Recently, the UD handled a case involving an 18-year-old who was hit by a car in a hit-and-run incident in Prince George’s County. The claimant was walking near the entrance to an apartment complex when a vehicle struck him. This area functions like a crosswalk, so drivers are expected to slow down and watch for pedestrians. Instead, the driver sped off and did not stop. Witnesses called 911 and reported the make if the vehicle, but no one was able to capture the license plate number.
When police arrived, they found the teenager lying in the street. He was taken to the ICU and remained hospitalized for 13 days. His injuries were serious and extensive. They included broken bones, head trauma, and other cuts and burns. His hospital bill alone was over $24,000.
The claim was submitted by his mother, who explained that although he was legally an adult, he was still recovering and couldn’t complete the paperwork or gather the information himself. She also shared that she had spoken to an attorney but was told they could not take the case because there was no way to identify the driver.
Because neither the claimant nor anyone in his household had a car or an auto insurance policy, there was no insurance available to cover his injuries. This meant that he was eligible to file a claim through the Uninsured Division. The UD helped the family get the police report, gather the medical records, and guided them through the process of handling a Medicaid lien.
Medicaid covered the claimant’s hospital bills, which meant they had first priority for repayment. The UD offered the $30,000 policy limit, paid the Medicaid’s lien, and negotiated so that the claimant was able to receive some of the funds as well.
Thanks to Maryland Auto’s Uninsured Division, the claimant received compensation in a situation where he otherwise would have had no way to recover any money for his injuries. Although the funds cannot undo the trauma or fully cover what he went through, the UD made sure he was not left on his own after a serious hit-and-run crash.
